Inell's Fanfiction Archive

It was just another Friday night on the Hellmouth...or so the two girls thought as they wandered through one of the many cemeteries in Sunnydale. Willow and Buffy chatted about the events of school that day as they searched for vampires.

"I still can't believe Xander is with Cordelia" Buffy said, shaking her head.

"Trust me, I know." Willow said dryly. Seeing her best friend look at her with concern, she shrugged, "Doesn't bother me like it did. Besides, they are perfect for each other. Don't give me that look! I am so over Xander. Trust me."

"Uh huh...sure. Moved on to bigger and better things, huh?" Buffy said, smiling. She sighed, looking around the tombstones, "Damn, it's quiet tonight. Maybe we should head home. I have that paper due for Miss Fisher on Monday."

"Sure thing. I could use some beauty sleep" Willow said, smiling.

The girls headed towards the entrance to the cemetery. They continued talking, acting almost as if they were browsing at the mall instead of hunting vampires. Suddenly, a group of vampires attacked.

"Willow," yelled Buffy ducking a fist and staking the first of many, not even looking at her friend. "Run now!"

Willow, with her first instinct being to help her friend, slowly started to back away from the rowdy group. As Buffy screamed in agony from a lucky blow from one of her attackers, Willow panicked, turning to run so she could fetch help. Stumbling slightly she turned straight into something cool, unmovable and wearing leather. The scent of old leather and cigarettes filed her nose as she inhaled sharply.

"Hello cutie," Spike purred at her. Eyes widening in terror Willow stepped back from him, only to be halted by his arm that held her firmly about the waist. Opening her mouth her scream was smothered by his free hand, his fingers digging into the flesh of her cheek, his thumb almost piercing the flesh under her chin. "Go on and fight me, makes it fun, love."

He smirked down at her and Willow heard a sickening crunch, then everything went black.

*********************

Her neck ached and there was a dull throbbing pain working its way through her head even as she rested it against the cool comfort of the silk pillow. Moaning softly she thought it was odd, she couldn't remember having a silk pillow. Her eyes flew open, she didn't have a silk pillow and yet she was resting against one.

"Good, you're awake," Willow twisted her head, wincing at the pain in her neck, and saw Angelus calmly sitting in a huge wing chair legs casually crossed, fingers steepled beneath his chin watching her, his dark eyes unreadable. Instincts kicked in and she jumped off the plush sofa she had been lying on and promptly fell down.

"Ow," she hissed, her hand flying up to cradle her neck. From the chair Angelus laughed, a deep rumble that rolled about the huge room they were in.

"Don't hurt yourself anymore Willow, I think Spike's already done a good enough job," Angelus spoke quietly, still watching her carefully. "I still need you in one piece."

"What do you want from me?" Willow asked, not looking up at him and instantly visualizing her own funeral.

"What do you think I want?" he asked softly.

Willow shrugged and swallowed back her tears. She knew he was nothing more than the Angel of Death, he wanted her dead so he could go and crow to Buffy. "I wouldn't have asked if I knew."

Again his laughter echoed through the room. "I have a..." he stopped and smirked at her, before glancing down and fiddling with his ring. "Proposition."

"What sort of proposition?" Willow frowned at his boots, not willing to look up into that hauntingly familiar face.

"Oh, a very simple one. You give me what I want and I will let Buffy and her pathetic little circle of family and friends," he spat those two words, like they were poison for him to even speak of. "Live."

For the first time since she fell, Willow looked up at him. His face, as usual, was set in a mask of amusement. Biting her lip she frowned at him. What did she have that he could possibly be interested in? "What do you want?"

"That's simple," he stated calmly, gracefully standing up and strolling toward her fallen form. Slowly he squatted down in front of her, his face barely a few inches above hers, his fingers lightly dragged across the bruises that Spike had left on her pale skin. He smiled as she flinched away, but continued to caress the darkening marks. "You."

For a moment Willow wasn't sure if she had heard him correctly. Shaking her head she tried to inch away, only to find it impossible to do so. "I don't...understand."

"Well, you surrender to me," he tilted his head and smiled a devilishly charming and dangerous smile. Again Willow shook her head and frowned.

"You mean you want my life?" Willow asked, uncertain of what he was saying as the throbbing in her head increased.

"I suppose...I want you, totally and completely. Your mind, your body," he lost his smile and his eyes darkened as they roamed over her body. He leaned in close, his cheek brushing against hers, so he could whisper in her ear. "And your soul."

"What?" Willow asked shocked. Angelus shook his head slightly and let out a frustrated sigh.

"I'm bored, I need a distraction," once more his eyes roamed over her, causing her to blush profoundly. "I want a consort Willow and I've decided on you."

"You're insane," spat Willow and instantly regretted it as his eyes turned to stone and he stood up.

"Not really, I know what I want. If I don't get it then Buffy and her pathetic circle will die...except you...you can just accept the consequences of your stupidity and selfishness."

"No," Willow almost sobbed, not wanting to consider life without her friends, or the knowledge that she could save them. "I don't understand..."

"What is there to understand?" he squatted back down and grabbed her shoulders in a vice like grip. "You agree they live, you don't they die. I'll give you until midnight tomorrow."

Before Willow could begin to comprehend what he had said, he kissed her. His lips bruising hers as his hold on her shoulders tightened. She felt a prick as he pierced her bottom lip with his teeth. He pulled back, a slight smirk on his lips as he regarded her. Not wanting him to see how scared she was, she furiously wiped her mouth as though it would remove the memory of his crushing kiss. "This is a joke, right?"

His eyes darkened, "Know now my sweet little virgin, I don't joke. Think of it this way, you hold all their pathetic little lives in your hands." As he spoke, his hands moved down her arms to hold said hands. His finger rubbed the palm of her hand lightly, "You say yes, they live." He placed a kiss on her palm. "You say no?" He tightened his hold on her hands, causing her to gasp from the pain, "They all fall down."

Willow blinked back tears as she finally realized he was serious. This wasn't a game. He was offering her the chance to secure her friend's futures, in exchange for her body, mind and soul. She felt him let her hands go as he stood.

Looking at her one last time, he studied her face. He could smell her fear, hear her heartbeat, sense her slight arousal. He wondered if she was even aware of what she wanted. He doubted it. That was one of the many reasons he had chosen her. She was ripe and ready, just waiting for the right master. He smiled at her, a cold calculating smile. He already knew what her decision would be. He had made the proposition impossible for her to resist. "Until tomorrow night."

Willow looked up at him, hearing his words. Before she could respond, he was gone. She heard the door close and a lock sliding into place. Good grief. She was trapped here until he came back for her. She felt tears slide down her face as she realized she had no choice. She would do anything for her friends. Even become Angelus's distraction.